Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister of Technology: Dental Technology In the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences At the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / A study of the modification of dental nanocomposites with nanosized fillers is presented. The incorporation of TiO2 (titania) nanoparticles, via a silane chemical bond, to a standard dental acrylic resin matrix was explored to determine whether there was an increase in the wear resistance, flexural strength and surface hardness properties of the dental nanocomposites. The principal aim of this study was to synthesize dental nanocomposites with different sizes, treated, nano-TiO2 fillers in urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) for potential application in posterior restoration and to evaluate their mechanical properties. Treatment of the nano-TiO2 particles was carried out with a silane coupling agent, 3-(methacryloyloxy)propyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS), to improve bonding between the nano-TiO2 particles and acrylic matrix (UDMA), and reduce agglomeration of the nano-TiO2. Characterisation of products was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). TEM results were used to compare the particle size distributions of untreated TiO2 and treated TiO2 under various experimental conditions in an ethanol solvent, while SEM images showed the adhesion between the matrix (UDMA) and the nano-TiO2. FTIR was used to show the qualitative composition of untreated TiO2 and treated TiO2. Eighteen groups of experimental dental nanocomposites were evaluated. Each group contained different average particle sizes of nano-TiO2 (filler): 5 nm, 21 nm and 80 nm. Each particle size category was treated with three different concentrations of the silane, (MPTMS): 2.5, 10 and 30 wt %. Samples were prepared by mixing the monomer resin matrix of UDMA and nano-TiO2 particles. For comparison, a commercially available dental resin was reinforced with untreated and treated nano-TiO2 particle sizes 5, 21 and 80 nm. Wear resistance, flexural strength and surface hardness of TiO2 nanocomposites treated with 2.5 wt % MPTMS were significantly higher compared to those treated with 10 and 30 wt% MPTMS. The nanocomposites with 5 nm TiO2 had higher wear loss, lower flexural strength and lower surface hardness values compared to those with 21 nm and 80 nm TiO2. Statistical analysis showed that the effect of the concentrations of MPTMS on wear resistance and surface hardness of specimens was significant (p<0.001), which is less than 0.05, while the effect of the concentration of MPTMS on flexural strength was statistically not significant, (p=0.02). Control composites reinforced with treated 80 nm TiO2 particles had much better mechanical properties than any of the other specimens. It was concluded that the most available commercial product for dental restorations could be improved by the addition of nano-TiO2 with relatively large particle size.

Thesis (MTech (Radiography))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / Background and purpose The primary aim of this study was to analyse the accuracy and reproducibility of radiation treatment to patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma at the only tertiary teaching and referral hospital in Kenya. The secondary objective was to review literature on quality assurance procedures that would result to provision of quality radiation treatment to this group of patients. Materials and method During the period May 2011 to March 2012, 35 patients with head and neck cancer comprising of 27 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 7 with paranasal sinus carcinoma and 1 with lymphoma falling within the enrolment criteria were treated using Equinox cobalt-60 unit with the same beam arrangement and were studied prospectively. Radical radiotherapy was delivered using conventional 2D technique in a routine dose of 60-66Gy to the primary and 50Gy to lymph nodes with additional dose to residual neck nodes. During the period of their treatment, a lateral portal image was taken once weekly. Four film image pairs were obtained per patient with each patient positioned and immobilised in an individualised Orfit thermoplastic mask and a head and neck support. The 4 portal images were compared to a corresponding simulator film taken during simulation planning. Deviations from the varied bony landmarks were measured on the portal images and simulator image from the centre of the radiation beam.

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Diagnostic Radiography in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / Complete, accurate and justified radiological examination requests are prerequisite to radiological exposures. However, global research shows evidence of high numbers of incomplete and inaccurate requests as well as that up to 77% radiological exposures are unjustified. Plain lumbar spine and plain skull radiology examinations are reported as being procedures that generate high dose and a low diagnostic yield. This study was designed to objectively measure the completeness, accuracy and justification of these two examinations in an effort to make inferences that will contribute to an improved radiology service. This research could therefore have positive effects on optimisation of radiation protection in Zimbabwe. Methodology A non participatory prospective descriptive analytical document review of quota sampled radiological request forms for 200 plain skull and 200 plain lumbar spine examinations was employed. Data was captured using structured data collection instruments designed and tested by the researcher for this study. The instrument was designed using the IAEA-HHS4 (2010) minimum prescribed request data as a framework and adding additional form fields found to be relevant through a review of all identified radiological request template forms in use at the research site. Data analysis involved central tendency measures and inferential statistics. Results: The central tendency demonstrated for the two examinations was that generally referrers for plain lumbar spine and for plain skull radiology would respectively provide 38.9 +/- 0.6% and 40.2+/-0.5% overall examination request information. This information was significantly below expectation. There was however no significant difference between the samples’ means for the two examinations. The tendency demonstrated in patient information for lumbar spine and skull requests was that generally referrers would respectively provide 48.4 +/- 0.8% and 49.5+/- 0.8% patient information. These values were inclusive of each other and they were significantly (p=0.00 Sig.) below expectation. There was however no significant difference between the two examinations’ data. The tendency demonstrated for examination information was that referrers for the research site would generally provide 29.8+/-0.8% (lumbar) and 32.6+/-0.8% (Skull) examination information. These values were significantly (p=0.000 Sig.) below expectation and demonstrated a significant difference between the sample means for the two examinations. With respect to referrer information, the tendency demonstrated was that generally referrers for plain lumbar spine and for plain skull examinations would respectively provide 38+/- 1% and 38.5 +/- 0.8% referrer identification information. These were significantly below expectation (p= 0.000 Sig.) but there was no significant difference between the samples’ means with respect to referrer information. With respect to accuracy of request data, it was observed that 5% plain lumbar spine and 3% plain skull requests were specific in so far as information documented on request forms could unambiguously identify the area to be imaged. It was also observed that 22.5% (lumbar spine) and 12% (skull) examination requests were indicated and therefore justified. All requests forms were found to be legible. Conclusions: Generally, referrers to this research site tend to provide incomplete, inaccurate and unjustified radiological request data. The observed levels of completeness, accuracy and justification of requests were generally consistent between the two examinations relative to expectation. These levels had medico-legal implications and negative effects on optimisation of radiation protection to patients. Further research to establish causes of this variance in referral behaviour is recommended. The researcher also recommends further research to establish whether there is an association between requested examination and completeness, accuracy and justification of diagnostic radiology examination requests. Keywords: Radiation protection, radiological request, complete request, accurate request, justified request, plain skull imaging, plain lumbar spine imaging.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Technology Radiography (Diagnostic) in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2009 / Since their discovery in 1895, the use of x-rays is continuously evolving in medicine making the diagnosis of injuries and diseases more practicable. It is therefore not surprising that x-rays contribute 90% of the radiation dose to the population from manmade sources (DWP, 1992). Moreover, these radiation doses are associated with both fatal and non-fatal cancer risk that is detrimental to adults between 20 to 60 years (Wall, 1996). Radiation dose to individuals therefore needs to be actively monitored in order to minimise such risk. Barium contrast examinations were characterised as one of the radiological examinations that contributed enormously to the collective dose to the patients in the radiology department (DWP, 1992). Determining the diagnostic reference levels of such examinations would reduce the over-exposure of individuals to ionising radiation. Currently in South Africa (SA), there are no diagnostic dose reference levels for barium meal (BaM) and barium enema (BaE) examinations. This study therefore investigated the radiation doses delivered to patients referred for BaM and BaE, obtained potential regional reference doses for these examinations, compared the radiation doses obtained with those from similar dosimetry studies and investigated sources of dose variation among the study sites. A total of 25 BaM and 30 BaE patients in the age range 18 to 85 years, weighing 50 kg to 90 kg, at 3 hospitals in the Western Cape, SA were investigated. The radiation dose to the patients was measured using Dose Area Product (DAP) meters that were permanently fitted onto fixed fluoroscopy units at these 3 hospitals. The third quartile DAP values were 20.1 Gycm2 and 36.5 Gycm2 for BaM and BaE respectively. The median DAP values were 13.6 Gycm2 and 27.8 Gycm2 for BaM and BaE respectively. The median values were recommended as the potential Diagnostic Reference Levels for BaM and BaE as they are less affected by outlying values of under or over- weight (Yakoumakis, Tsalafoutas, Sandilos, Koulentianos et al, 1999). The weights of the patients, fluoroscopy time, the number of images obtained, the use of digital or conventional fluoroscopy equipment and the level of training of the radiologists were the factors considered for dose variation among the 3 hospitals.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Radiography in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2008 / The focus of this study is the professional communication practices of radiotherapists as clinical practitioners and as teachers of student/novice radiotherapists. The study was undertaken at a higher education institution and a radiation oncology department in South Africa and addressed the research question; what are the communication practices of radiotherapists in their professional practice and as higher education teachers. This work on professional communication was based on practice and discourse theory as relating to a local context of professional practice and education. Professional communication, seen in this sense, is a social practice which needs to be understood as operating within educational, work and social discursive practices of radiation therapy. A case study approach was chosen as the most appropriate research strategy for capturing the authentic communication practices of radiotherapists in clinical and educational practice. The professional communication practices of ten student and five qualified radiotherapists were investigated through typical teaching and learning interactions in a work integrated learning curriculum. The learning interactions were observed and video-taped in the classroom, tutorial, and demonstration room. Communication interactions were observed and audio taped in the clinical workplace. The research participants, using the video footage as part of their reflections, were interviewed about their communication practices. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed. Analysis of the data was by means of thematic analysis where the data was coded and categorised by means of pattern matching. The findings from the study showed that the communication practices of radiotherapists include: an ‘academic language’, through which academic content knowledge is expressed; a ‘professional language’ for negotiating the complex professional relationships within the clinical environment; and a language for patient care. Their students (novice radiotherapists) are required to master this professional language within their own ‘language of learning’ practice which includes the multilingual component of the workplace. A multilayered model of professional communication evolved and was developed within the analysis process. This model identifies three genres of professional communication: intra-, inter- and extraprofessional communication. Each of these genres was shown to have both formal and informal registers. Technical communication was further identified as a subset of intra- and interprofessional communication. These were further contextualised within the clinical radiotherapy workplace and the classroom (pedagogic) communication practice. The findings also identified multilingualism as a discursive practice within the professional communication of the radiotherapy classroom and workplace. In conclusion, it is argued that the professional communication of radiotherapists comprises a continuum of communication practices that has significance for both professional and pedagogic radiotherapy practice, and it is shown that communication practices play an important role in the establishment of professional identity and expertise and enable the novice radiotherapist to find their ‘professional voice’.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Radiography in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, 2008 / Introduction Research to date has not been able to agree whether spatial abilities can be developed by practice. According to some researchers spatial ability is an inherited cognitive ability, compared to spatial skills that are task specific and can be acquired through formal training. It is commonly assumed that radiographers require general cognitive spatial abilities to interpret complex radiographic images. This research was conducted to investigate second year radiography students’ three-dimensional thinking skills pertaining to film-viewing assessments. Materials and methods The experimental research strategy was mainly applied together with correlation research. Two trials were run (in 2005 and 2006). The sample group consisted of fifteen second year diagnostic radiography students in 2005 and twenty-three second year diagnostic radiography students, of the same institution, in 2006. Each year group was randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. Two instruments were used, that is a film-viewing assessment and a three-dimensional test, Academic Aptitude Test (University) (AAT) nr. nine: Spatial Perception (3-D). The whole class completed this basic spatial aptitude test, as well as a base-line film viewing assessment, which focused on the evaluation of technique/anatomy of second year specialised radiographic projections. The marks that the students achieved in the fore-mentioned tests were compared, to determine if there was any correlation between their performances in the different tests. A curricular intervention, which was intended to improve applied three-dimensional skills, was subsequently applied. The students executed certain modified radiographic projections on parts of a human skeleton. For each radiographic projection, the students had to draw the relation of the X-ray beam to the specific anatomical structures, as well as the relation of these structures to the film. The related images of these projections were also drawn. With each of the following sessions, films including images of the previous session were discussed with each student. After the intervention, the whole class wrote a second film-viewing assessment. The marks achieved in this assessment were compared to the marks of the initial film-viewing assessment to determine the influence of the intervention on the performance of the intervention group. Following this assessment, for ethical reasons, the same intervention took place with the control group. A third film-viewing assessment was then written by all the diagnostic second year students to evaluate the overall impact of the intervention on the applied three-dimensional skills of the class. The marks of both the 2005 and 2006 classes (intervention classes) were compared to the marks achieved by former classes from 2000 to 2004 (control classes), in film-viewing assessments to evaluate the role of the curricular intervention over the years. The students again completed the three-dimensional test, Spatial Perception (3-D) to evaluate the impact of the intervention on students’ general three-dimensional cognitive abilities. These marks were also compared to the marks of the third filmviewing assessment, to determine if there was any correlation between the students’ performances in the different tests. Results The intervention groups did not perform significantly better in film-viewing assessments after the intervention, compared to the control groups, but reasonable differences, favouring the intervention group, were achieved. Statistical significance was achieved in film-viewing assessments with both year groups after the whole class had the intervention. The intervention year groups also performed significantly better than the previous year groups (without the intervention) in film-viewing assessments. The performance in general three-dimensional cognitive abilities of the group of 2006 improved significantly after the intervention, but on the contrary, the performance of the group of 2005 declined. There was a small intervention effect on the performance of the group of 2006. Only a weak to moderate correlation between the marks of the students achieved in the three-dimensional tests and the marks achieved in the film-viewing assessments, was found. Conclusion The contrasting evidence between the data of the two groups (2005 and 2006) in the three-dimensional tests and the small intervention effect on the performance of the group of 2006, makes the intervention not applicable for the increase of general spatial abilities. The results of this research show that the applied three-dimensional skills of radiography students in interpreting specialised and modified projections can be improved by intensive practice, independent of their inherited spatial abilities.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2013 / The continent of Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time in 2010. The historical hosting of Africa‟s first mega-event by South Africa was deemed to be a key opportunity to initiate and promote socio-economic legacies for local South Africans. Therefore, the importance of examining visitor experiences and perceptions of the event cannot be overemphasised. The global struggle for competitive advantage, national reputation or nation branding is in recent times more and more significant as countries compete for attention, respect and trust of investors, tourists, consumers, donors, immigrants and media. Assessing visitors‟ experiences can contribute significantly to knowledge management and inform the planning of future events to leverage positive benefits while minimising the negative impacts. In this study, visitors‟ perceptions of the event are examined using Nelson Mandela Bay / Port Elizabeth (one of the nine [9] host cities for the 2010 event) as a case study. A spatially-based systematic sampling technique was used to interview visitors at fan parks and in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium precinct during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and in all, two thousand, two hundred and twenty-five (n=2225) visitors were interviewed. The key findings reveal that many of the visitors came from the key tourism source markets of South Africa (the United Kingdom [UK], Germany, the Netherlands, the United States of America [USA] and France), were men and had an average age of thirty three (33) years. They generally had positive perceptions about the hosting of the event and the quality of tourism facilities and services on offer during their stay in Nelson Mandela Bay / Port Elizabeth, and South Africa generally. Additionally, many visitors suggested that the hosting of the event in Nelson Mandela Bay / Port Elizabeth offered an opportunity to experience a different tourism destination, with potential for future repeat visitations. However, the city was found to be a poor responsible tourism destination and as not being a good value-for-money destination. During the event, the Nelson Mandela Bay / Port Elizabeth region arguably drew its biggest international crowd as it usually receives fewer international tourists when compared to other regions in South Africa. The study therefore underscores the need for local tourism authorities to devise strategies aimed at capitalising on the exposure garnered through the hosting of the event and at maximising the opportunity to tap into new tourism markets with a view to increasing international visitation in a province that is said to attract only five percent of South Africa‟s international visitors.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / In the light of the growing hospitality industry on one hand, and the limited space available at hospitality training institutions on the other, hotel schools are faced with the challenge of being able to identify students who will most likely be able to complete their courses and thus serve the industry. The practical element of hospitality studies is a defining characteristic that differentiates the subject from other business and management courses. Hotel schools therefore are required to be able to select students that are able to cope with the academic and practical requirements of hospitality courses. This research focused on analysing the current selection practices used by hospitality training institutions when selecting entry level students. The purpose was to identify success predictors and thus formulate an effective selection programme that incorporates the student‟s academic and vocational skills in order to reduce the student drop-out rate and increase the number of graduates entering the job market. The target population used for this research was hospitality management students. The criteria used were hospitality management students enrolled for courses with a qualification that is in accordance with NQF level 6 in Cape Town. The two schools that were used as the sample for this study were the IHS (International Hotel School) and the CTHS (Cape Town Hotel School), as they were found to be the only two schools that fit the criteria. The purposive sampling method was used in the form of semi-structured interviews that were conducted with the four academics involved in the student selection process at both institutions. Questionnaires were sent out to students and hospitality industry professionals to be completed. Information was also derived from the IHS and CTHS‟s data-bases to determine what the drop-out rates were at each institution. The findings revealed that the student drop-out rate was up to a significant 30%. A number of students were not well informed of the nature of the hospitality industry and the career path to which it lead when applying to study courses in hospitality. The findings also revealed that each school used different assessment criteria during the selection process. The selection process ranged from being a purely academic exercise to being a very extensive interview and assessment programme that tested both academic and vocational skills. Realising that it is vital to determine industry fit, the researcher made recommendations on tools that could be used during the selection process that would allow access to as many students as possible without resulting in a high drop-out rate. Utilising effective selection tools in the student selection process not only ensures a steady flow of suitable candidates, but also will ensure efficient hospitality professionals in the future to continuously supply the growing hospitality and tourism industry.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008 / Taping into a growing global tourism market, the government of Rwanda has been marketing and promoting tourism as being considered as one of the sectors that will help the country achieve its economic targets through revenue gains and job creation. However, Rwanda’s tourism product has understandably, been aimed largely at gorilla tourism so as to raise much needed foreign currency. While this has been proving positive as regards achieving industry targets, dependence on an exclusive product could be detrimental to the industry in the future. This research that was carried out in Rwanda’s Museums focused on a significant form of tourism in Africa, namely heritage tourism with specific reference to its development and promotion in Rwanda. The results reveal that heritage tourism, and domestic heritage tourism in particular, is experiencing growth with genocide museums playing a large part in this growth. The findings further suggest that the heritage management, especially marketing of heritage tourism can be improved. The research provides several procedures for improvement in management of heritage destination that include the assessment of heritage resources, the role of tourism managers, and different marketing strategies for heritage sites.

Mini-thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Public Management in the Faculty of Business at the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2013 / Gillis (2004:1) stated in her publication in Communication World that “employees are the lifeblood of an organisation.” Local governments, both in South Africa and abroad, are increasingly faced with the need to change for a number of reasons, one of which is to change so as to become more responsive and improve performance. As local government devises means to attain the objectives of performance management, how does it ensure that performance management objectives are mainstreamed within the organisation? Academic writers agree that staff resistances are counterproductive to the efforts made by any municipality to introduce performance management systems with the aim of bringing about effective and efficient service to its constituents. The key to avoiding staff resistances, which all organisations have to take account of, is communicating with employees. The writer suggests that this process is necessary and unavoidable, yet it is almost always ignored. The main aim of this study was to review the communication practices underpinning the Balance Scorecard (BSC) performance management system within the Cape Town Metropolitan Police Department (CTMPD). Tentative discussions with the metropolitan police department’s middle and low level managers indicated little understanding of how the BSC fits into the CTMPD’s accountability measures. At regular senior management meetings, called the Operational Management Forum (OMF), in 2011, the researcher learnt from operational directors and managers that they were not properly consulted with regard to the BSC system and that the implementation of the system was not adequately communicated. Managers claimed that only a short presentation was given in 2009 and it was then expected that middle managers would achieve the desired results and attain objectives towards which they had very little input. They have since become disillusioned and have resorted to focussing solely on ensuring that they spend their budgets with little understanding that there is more to the BSC than financial measurements. Thus the research questions were posed: why was performance management introduced within the CTMPD and what guidelines can be provided to improve how performance management is communicated to managers? A questionnaire was used to gain insight into this; it was administered to middle management within the CTMPD. The main findings of the research were that the respondents have an understanding of performance management. Another finding was that the majority of the respondents were not trained in the BSC performance management system. The researcher thus recommended that the safety and security training college be tasked to develop a training workshop, with the help of the support services manager. In addition, the researcher also recommended that the support services division ensures that candidates eligible for middle management positions be tested on their core communication skills and understanding of performance management principles prior to appointment.